Railroad spreader



Dec. 29, 1931. A. w. BANTON 1,838,730

RA ILROAD S PREADER Filed Sept. 29, 1950 5 Sheets She'et 1 Dec. 29 1931. A. w. BANTON 1,838,730

RAILROAD SPREADER Filed Sept. 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 29, 193.1. A. w. BANTON RAILROAD SPREADER Filed Sept. 29, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 I T J- M- T OFFICE? ALBERT W. BAN'ronj oFnAsr onroneo, INDIA A, AssIGNoR To 0.1 JonnAuooMrANx,

- or EAST .cnioneo, INDIANA, A oonronnrron or INDIANA.

. more srnmniin Application fi led seplt'emb er 2a 1930. Serial No. 485,048.

This invention relates to'improvements in railroad spreaders and it consists ofthe matters hereinafter described and more" particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

The invention is of especial advantage in railroad Spreaders which embody'a main spreader wing anda secondarywing or bank sloper, operatively connected. to the outer. end of the main spreader wing and the primary object of said invention is to provide an improved brace connection between the outer end of the secondary 'wingorsloper and the car, whereby said secondary wing may be positively-held in the desired operative posi- Another object of'theinventionis to'improve the construction of the secondary wing or sloper brace which though quiteheavy and strong in structure to withstand the great .3 strainsimposed upon'it in use, may be easily disconnected therefrom and readily placed inacarrying position on theHca-ruof the spreader when the same is to be moved "in transport from one place of use to another.

The above-mentioned objects of the invention together with others, as well as the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in .side elevation ofthat portion of a railroad spreader intermediate its ends, embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryperspective view of the main wing and secondary wing or; bank .sloper, together with associated parts are railroad spreader embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view on. an enlarged scale through the inner top or end, portion of the secondary wing or slloper brace operativelyconnected toythe wing post. p r y I Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the scale of; Fig. 3 of the outer bottom or end portion of the sloperbrace. Fig. 5 isa transversedetailsectional view through-the sloperbrace'as taken-on the line of F g 4- v V In general myimproved railroad spreader includes a main spreader wing, so connected to its'associated wing post on the car. ,as to vspct to the boom with the result that said brace swings upwardly into a position .ad-

be not only positioned at the desired elevation but also at the desired angle with respect to thecar: I On the post is mounted a boom and between said boom and main wing is a powercylinder whereby the wing may be swung about a horizontal axis into the desired position. Associated with the outer end of the wing so as to be capable of being swung about ibotha horizontal and a vertical axis is a sec-- ondary wing or banksloperwhich may be "foldedup against the wing for transport purpose or may be swung so as to shape or form the 'slopeof a bank.- vi

- On the top end of the post is a bracketto which the inner end of a-telescopicpowerad tuated brace isconnected, the other end of the brace being detachably connected to the other end ofthe secondary wing or sloper to hold it in operative position for bank sloping during spreading operations. I This brace is quite heavy andwhen the spreader car is to be transported from one place of use to another,

said brace is 'firstdisconnected from the secondarywing or: sloperand then engaged with other parts of the car for carrying purposes.

WVhen' said brace is thus being carried, the

outer end thereof in its contracted position rests in a hook provided therefor on-the cylinder between the boom and spreader wing.

Onthe outer end of the extensible part or plunger of the brace is asheave, about which a chain that is fixed at one end with respect ,to the boom may be trained, after which the fotherendof the chain may be removably attached to the other orcylinder member of said brace: When the outer end of the extensible part or plunger of the brace is dis connected from the .sloper, and it'is' desired to} dispose the brace in its out of the way po-.. 5

sition, for carrying, it is only necessary to extend said plunger; This acts to reduce the ef- 'fective length of that-part of the chain be tween the'sheave and that end fixed with rejacent the supporting hook into which it may be moved laterally. The brace may be socured to the. supporting hook by a second chain provided therefor so that it cannot be.

dislodged therefrom when the car is in transaort.

1 Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings :1 indicates as a whole the car of a railroad spreader having front and rear wheeled trucks 2 and 3 for travel upon the rails 4 of a railroad track. At

each side of the car, to the rear of the front trucks is an upright wing post 5 upon which a tube 6 is capable of both a turning and longitudinal movement. On the bottom end of this tube is secured a laterally extending hinge plate 7 to which the main spreader wing 8 is pivoted as at 9 to swing about a horizontal axis. On each tube 6 is mounted a lever arm 10 operatively engaged at its other end by the piston of an associated power actuating cylinder 11 mounted on the car forward of the post 5. This arm has a spline connection with the tube which is vertically movable with respect thereto whereby no matter what the relative position of the tube may have on the post, it may be turned thereon to swing the wing toward and away from the car, into and out of its operative and inoperative positions.

12 indicates as a whole a boom that is associated with the main wing. This boom includes a horizontal arm 13 fixed at one end to the top of the tube 6 and an inclined strut 14 fixed at its bottom end to the top of the hinge plate 7. The other end of said arm and strut are connected together by a gusset 15. Pivoted to the gusset as at 16 is a power cylinder 17 that includes a yoke and guide tube extension 18. In the cylinder 17 is a piston, the associated rod of which extends down through the tube to engage with a bracket 19 on the top edge of the main spreader wing. This power cylinder is preferably pneumatically actuated from both ends so that the main spreader wing may be swung about its pivot 9 with the hinge plate 7 into the desired angular position.

Associated with the outer end ofthe main spreader wing is a secondary or sloper 20 as it is sometimes termed. This sloper has a pivotal connection 21 at its inner end with a hinge leaf 22 that is in turn pivoted at its bottom end as at 23 to the outer bottom corner of the main spreader wing. Said hinge leaf is formed at its top end to extend under an arcuate flange 24 on the front side of the main wing and this flange is concentric with the pivotal axis 23. On the other end of the secondary wing sloper is provided spaced ears 25 to receive a pin 26 whereby the outer end of the associated brace may be detachably connected thereto as will later appear. From the above, it is apparent, that the sloper may be swung into the desired angular position with respect to the main wing.

7 When the spreader as a whole is in transport from one place of use to another, the

post 5 and the bracket 19, a double acting power cylinder 27. Associated with said cylinder is a piston and piston rod 28 that is connected at its outer end to a runner block 29 having guided movement on a rail 30 on the top edge of the main wing. Pivotally connected at its inner end to the runner 29 is a rod 31, the outer end of which is detachably connected to the rear side of the sloper so that when the sloper is disposed in the plane of the main spreader wing itmay be readily swung about the pivot 23 before mentioned.

The sloper 20 is swung into operative position about the pivot 21 by meansof a pneumatically actuated, telescopic brace 32 which has a universal connection at both ends with the rear side of the sloper and with the car as indicated at 33, only the last mentioned connection being shown here- -is operatively connected to the boss 36 with a somewhat loose fit or play and is adapted for detachable connection at its other end with the sloper by means of the spaced ears and pin 25-26 before mentioned. When disconnected from the sloper and the spreader car is transported from one place of use to another, said brace is adapted to be engaged in a supporting hook 37 depending from the cylinder 17 as best shown in Fig. 1.

The brace 34 comprises a relatively long cylinder 38 closed at one end by a head 39 that includes an eye 40 for the loose fit or play with the boss 36, this play or fit per mitting an easy turning of the eye on said boss as well as a limited rocking movement. The other end of said cylinder is connected to one end of an extension tube 41 by means of a flanged fitting 42 and to the other end of said extension tube is secured a block 43. Within the cylinder 38 is a piston 44 having a piston rod 45 slidable through a stuiiing boss 46 in the flanged fitting 42 as best shown in Fig. 3; r

The extension tube4l is of a cylindrical cross section while the guide block 43 is of a rectangular cross section. Slidable through said block for projection from and retraction into the extension tube 411s a plunger or brace tube 44*, which is also of a rectangular cross section to prevent its turning in the block 43. To the outer extremity. ofsaid plunger or brace tube is secured; a clevis like member 46 and on the top side of said tube spaced from said extremity is a sheave 47. Pivoted to the clevis member, 46* as at 17?, is a bracket 48 of a length to engage between the ears, 25-on the secondary wingand when said bracket is so engaged, the pin '26 may be inserted through said ears and bracket to pivotally and (letachably connect them together. i z r In the other endlof .the plunger or brace tube is secured a bearing block 50 through which the piston rod 45 extends, the extremity of said rod being secured ina cross :head block 51, in turn secured to the correspondin end of the plunger or brace tube by a cross pin 52. On the top surfaceofthe brace tube issecured a reinforcing strip 53 having holes 54:. therein which register: with similar holes in said tube.' 7 1 The guide block4-3 includesa pedestal 55 upon which is mounted a cylinder 56 with its axis arranged at a right angle to that of the plunger or brace tube 44% In this cylinder is located a piston 57 the associated rod or stem 58 of which extends through the guide block to pass through'the desired hole 54 in the plunger or brace tube 443 and its reinforcing strip 53. In this respect, it is pointed out that this tube and strip alsohaveregistering holes 5% so arranged that when the plunger or brace tube has been retracted to its fullest; extent, the stem 58 registers and extends-through the same to lock said tube in this retracted position as best shown in In the, cylinder 56 between its head and said piston is locateda spring 59 that normally acts to pro} ect the piston and rod into locking engagement with the plunger or brace tube. A conduit 60 opens into the opposite or inner end of the cylinder whereby a pressure fluid may enter the same to move this piston against the actionof the spring 59 to withdraw and hold the stem 58 outof locking engagement with the plunger or brace tubes Said conduit leads to a position onthe spreader, convenient for the operator whereby the action of said stem may be controlled. Associated with each end of the cylinder 38 is'a pressure fluid conduit 61 and 62 for the actu ationof the piston 44 and its rod L5 in the des'ired'direction, the inlet and outlet of fluid through said conduits alsobeing controlled from the car of the spreader.

Whenfluid under pressure is admitted to one end or the other of the cylinder 38 by means "of said conduits61-62 it is apparent" that the piston therein moves one direction therei nto.

or the other and a like movement is imparted through the rod 45 tothe plungersor brace connected to the cars 25 on the secondary wing or sloper and the sameis in operation, either to shape a bank or to carry material along to make a filha great strain is imposed 375 upon the brace, which acts to extend the same. To amply resist this strain the brace as a whole must be exceedingly strong and to get the proper strength, it must be. made quite for convenient hanheavy, too heavy in fact dling by manuallabor. I provide in connection with said brace, means whereby the extending of the brace when disconnected from thesloper, assists in lifting the same into: a position closely adjacent its supporting hook into which it may .be easily moved or pushed laterally. v I 1 Such means includes a flexible member 63 in the form of a chain which is secured at one ,end to an arm 6%. on the cylinder 17 and which about the sheave 47 on the maybe trained plunger or brace tube 448 to be detachably connected at its other end as at 65 preferably to a point on the pedestal '55 of the guide block43. After the spreading and bank sloping operation has beencarried out and it is desired to'transport the car to another place of operation, the bracket48 is disconnectedfrom the ears-25 of thesloper and the main wing 8 is then swung in toward the car. "The chain 63 which when not in use hangs looped about the hook 37 as shown in Fig. 2, is then trained about the sheave 47 after-whichits free? end is then attached to the pedestal 55,'the plunger. having been first retracted into the-ex Thereafter the plunger is projected from said tube thus shortening the dis I tensiontube.

tancebetween the sheave 4:7 and arm 64:." As

this distance is thus shortened, the sheave will travel up that end of the chain 63 until the extension tube M reaches the plane ofthe hook 37 after which it may he pushed laterally When so positioned in the supporting hook, a chain67 which is secured at one end to the cylinder is wrapped or looped about theextension tube to secure the same in said hook, Toprevent the plunger from beprojected. too far out of the extension at one end to the guide block and at the other end to the plunger tube. After the brace has been thus positionediin the supporting hook chain, 66 connected 1 37' the sloper is swung into a'positionparallel with the main spreader, wing when the rod 31 is connected to therear side thereof; The

cylinder. 27 is then actuatedto swing the sloper into theposition shown in Fig.1,andthe car is readyfortransp'ort purpose.

When the new place of; u

se a has been brace which is a heavy reached, the chain 67 is removed to release the brace, air is slowly admitted into the inner end of the cylinder so that the plunger is slowly projected. This operates to lift the brace upwardly a short distance and it is then manually swung laterally away from its supporting hook. Thereafter by gradually releasing the air, the brace lowers itself by gravity into a position wherein after the spreader wing a-ndsloper have been repositioned the bracket 48 is again connected to the ears 25 by the pin 26.

The end of the chain 63 may be then detached from the pedestal and removed or detrained from about the sheave and is looped about the supporting book as before.

From the above, it is apparent that the power opera-ted one, may by the use of the chain as described, raise and lower itself into and out of substantially operative position, with respect to its supporting hook so far as heavy manual lifting is concerned. Thus the heavy brace may be readily and quickly manipulated.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered as illustrative only so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing operatively mounted on the post, a telescopic brace connecting the post and wing and actuating the latter, a second wing pivotally mounted at one end on said main wing for a swinging movement into and out of bank shaping or sloping position with respect thereto and means independent of said telescopic brace for operatively connecting the other end of said second wing with said post.

2. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing operatively mounted on the post, a telescopic brace connecting said post and wing and actuating the latter, a second wing pivotally mounted at one end on said main wing for a swinging movement into and out of bank shaping or sloping position with respect thereto and means independent of telescopic brace for operatively and detachably connecting the other end of said second wing with said post.

3. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing operatively mounted on the post, a second wing pivotally mounted at one end on said main wing for a swinging movement into and out of bank shaping or sloping position with respect thereto and a tele scopic brace connecting the outer end of the secondary wing with said post.

4. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing operatively mounted on the post, a second wing pivotally mounted at one end on said main wing for a swinging movement into and out of bank shaping or sloping position with respect thereto, a brace member operatively connected at one end to said post and a second brace member telescopic with respect to the first brace member and operatively connected at its other end to the outer end of the secondary wing.

5. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing operatively mounted on the post, a second wing pivotally mounted at one end on said main wing for a swinging movement into and out of bank shaping or sloping position with respect thereto, a brace member operatively connected at one end to said post, a second brace member telescopic with respect to the first brace member and operatively connected at its other end to the outer end of the secondary wing and means for locking the members of the brace together in the desired operative relation.

6. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main wing connected at one end to said post, means including a'brace connected to said post and another part of the main wing for supporting the same, a secondary wing, a brace detachably connected the post and secondary wing and means associated with the first brace for supporting the secondary wing brace at a point spaced from the post when said last mentioned brace is detached from said secondary wing.

7. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main wing connected at one end to said post, means including a brace connected to said post and another part of the main wing for supporting the same, a secondary wing, a telescopic brace having one part connected to the post and an extensible part detachably connected to the outer end of the secondary wing, and means on said first mentioned brace adapted for engagement by one of said parts of the telescopic brace for supporting the same after said extensible part has been disconnected from said secondary wing.

8. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main wing connected at one end to said post, means including a brace connected to said post and another part of the main wing for supporting the same, a secondary wing, a brace detachably connecting the post and secondary wing and means associated with the first brace for supporting the secondary wing brace in substantially the plane of the main wing when said last mentioned brace is detached'from said secondary wing.

9. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing operatively connected to said post, a secondary wing, a brace including an extensible part adapted for detachable connection with said secondary wing, means adapted for attachment to the extensible part of the brace and operable in the extension of said part when detached from the secondary wing to lift the brace and means for supporting said brace from the car when so lifted.

10. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a post at one side of the car, a main spreader wing and a lifting brace therefor connected to said post, a secondary wing connected at one end to the main wing, a brace including a part connected to the post and an extensible part adapted for detachable connection with the other end of the secondary wing, means connected at one endto the main wing brace and adapted for detachable connection with the extensible part of the second mentioned brace and operable'upon extension of said part when detached from the secondary wing to lift the same upwardly and means on the. main wing brace to support said secondary wing brace when thus lifted. 7

11. A railroad spreader embodying therein a car, a main spreader wing operatively connected thereto, a second wing pivotally connected to the main wing for movement into and out of operative position with respect thereto, a telescopic brace operatively connected at one end to the car and including a projectable part adapted for detachable connection with said second wing, a support on the car for a part of said brace, and means secured at one. end to said car and adapted for detachable connection at its other end with said projectable part and operable in the projection thereof to cause the brace to swing into the plane of its support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of September, 1930. ALBERT W. BANTON. V 

